Originally posted inwards 2009, this article appears every bit significantly expanded and updated inwards July 2012
Despite the fact antibiotic protocol has been used successfully for decades inwards Europe, the Netherlands together with the U.S. to care for diverse forms of rheumatic illness or inflammatory arthritis such every bit RA, lupus, scleroderma, spondyloarthropathy together with fibromyalgia (for brevity’s sake, hereafter “arthritis”) inwards thousands of patients, relatively few physicians inwards the U.S. are educated nigh it, together with fifty-fifty fewer patients are aware of its existence. The bulk of rheumatologists together with other physicians inwards the U.S. are non familiar amongst the numerous studies together with clinical trials which take hold demonstrated the effectiveness of the antibiotic protocol therapy (“AP”). As a result, millions of Americans take hold been suffering needlessly for decades--and many take hold died. I cringe amongst anger every fourth dimension I run into that awful TV ad for Orencia inwards which Martha Borst shows her RA-ridden hands together with tells us our RA is non going away together with she tin assist us acquire to alive amongst it. Of course, the website to which she refers us inwards the advertizement is simply a tool for the pharmaceutical society Bristol-Meyers Squibb to collect information from us nigh the medications nosotros are taking together with to marketplace their ain products. Naturally, no cite is made of the thousands of arthritis patients who take hold made tremendous recoveries due to long-term usage of antibiotics which take hold been around for decades together with take hold no uncertainty lost much of their profitability due to expired patents.
Since 2009, I take hold been undergoing AP therapy for arthritis which is really designed to contrary the disease, different the treatments used today past times the vast bulk of rheumatologists inwards the U.S., such every bit steroids, methotrexate, Plaquenil, gold, Arava, penicillamine, Cytoxan, etc. (i.e., the “Metabolic Drugs”), which only salve the symptoms temporarily together with are toxic. Several other people whom I know personally are also beingness treated for inflammatory arthritis amongst antibiotics, and all take hold seen tremendous improvement. We take hold reclaimed our lives! Yet the ameliorate nosotros experience every bit the months (and at nowadays years) pass, the to a greater extent than tragic it seems to us that so many people are soundless suffering amongst the disease, when the noesis to significantly improve their symptoms inwards most cases--and inwards many cases send their arthritis into remission--has been available to physicians for decades.
So, inwards Nov 2009, I wrote an informational article nigh the AP therapy which included information from recent studies together with the history of antibiotic usage inwards handling of arthritis, every bit good every bit my personal experience amongst AP therapy together with that of ii other arthritis sufferers, my brother-in-law together with some other skilful friend. Since that time, nosotros take hold distributed many copies of the article to other arthritis sufferers, physicians, nurses, together with just nigh anyone else willing to read it, hoping to broaden world awareness of this treatment's success together with encourage to a greater extent than doctors to create the handling available to their patients. As a direct result, to a greater extent than arthritis patients take hold sought the AP therapy, together with our piffling circle of success stories has grown, grown, grown! We at nowadays take hold contacts across the country--and around the globe--who take hold freed themselves from the shackles of debilitating arthritis amongst the assist of knowledgeable doctors prescribing the ever-so-humble, yet highly-effective . . . antibiotic. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few of these patients take hold graciously allowed us to percentage their stories inwards this update. This update also includes a valuable contribution written past times Dr. Rima Kittley, who has treated my brother-in-law, my friend, my hubby together with me amongst the AP therapy. Her writing describes the experiences leading to her belief that AP is the preferred handling for inflammatory arthritis, together with explains her full general approach to determining which antibiotics--and when--work best inwards a given case. In fact, Dr. Kittley has been successfully treating her ain arthritis together with that of her woman bring upward amongst AP for many years. Personally, I believe every full general practitioner, rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon together with infectious illness specialist should create fourth dimension to read her contribution. Failure to do so would live a pitiful disservice to one's patients.
Initially, nosotros had extreme difficulty locating doctors inwards Oklahoma together with the surrounding areas who are well-educated nigh the handling together with currently offering it to their patients. As a result, we were forced to travel out of province for treatment, together with other people who were unable to travel long distances for wellness or financial reasons essentially had no access to AP. The number of doctors inwards Oklahoma together with the U.S. inwards full general who are educating themselves together with at nowadays willing to care for arthritis amongst AP is growing, but not nearly rapidly plenty for the millions of people who are soundless suffering from constant hurting together with the downright nasty side-effects of the traditional arthritis treatments. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 long-term U.S. observational study found that betwixt 1998 together with 2009, 18% of the rheumatologists surveyed had prescribed minocycline or doxycycline for RA--on average to only i or ii patients, together with these were to a greater extent than often than non patients amongst "long-standing, refractory disease." (Smith, C.J. et al., "Minocycline together with Doxycycline Therapy inwards Community Patients amongst Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prescribing Patterns, Patient-level Determinants of Use, together with Patient-reported Side Effects," inwards Arthritis Res. Ther. 2011: 13(5): R168. Epub 2011 Oct. 18). We sincerely promise many to a greater extent than physicians volition pick out the fourth dimension to read this article together with the growing mass of undeniable information indicating antibiotic therapy is gradually gaining a foothold every bit a mainstream handling for arthritis. In fact, some of the pharmacies are fifty-fifty kickoff to cite "arthritis" inwards their information leaflets every bit i of the purposes for which sure antibiotics may live prescribed.
Chances are, fifty-fifty if you lot do non take hold inflammatory arthritis, you lot know someone who does, or you lot at to the lowest degree take hold seat unit of measurement members or friends who know someone amongst the disease. By simply passing this information along, you lot mightiness create a huge departure inwards the life of someone who is suffering. We believe that if plenty arthritis patients go aware of AP together with asking it from their physicians (or gravitate to the physicians out of province who currently offering it), so to a greater extent than doctors inwards Oklahoma together with the surrounding areas volition start to educate themselves together with offering the therapy.
Toward this end, we offer this update of the 2009 article. Additional information nigh the studies together with protocol itself tin live found at the Road Back Foundation's site. That site also contains an ever-growing number of testimonials from other arthritis patients of all walks of life who take hold reclaimed their lives due to antibiotics, tenacity together with patience. Texts of most of the studies cited inwards this article are also available online at the cited medical journals’ spider web sites.
Cristi Grider
Choctaw, OK, USA
Six Recovering Arthritics:
A Good Deal of Research together with Three Years into Antibiotic Therapy
BILL'S CASE together with the RESEARCH
My brother-in-law, Bill, leads an active lifestyle. He is an airline airplane pilot together with flying instructor, together with owns a vineyardin Oklahoma. He foremost had symptoms of RA inwards 2003, together with past times 2007 it was interfering amongst his life. His release energy went away. His shoulders, knees together with hands became so painful he could no longer piece of work inwards the vineyard or piece of work on farm equipment or his airplanes. Kneeling became impossible. He had problem opening jars together with 2-liter popular bottles. He became frustrated together with began slipping into depression. By Summer 2008, he had had 3 cortisone injections to suspension loose his frozen shoulders together with i injection inwards his knee. He had problem walking the aerodrome terminals, together with i time had to live carried off a plane because his knee articulation froze inwards the cockpit. He began walking amongst a cane. He could non fully extend his elbows or lift both arms higher upward his head. Blood tests showed his RA Factor was 189, together with his flying surgeon asked him how he was able to go out of bed inwards the mornings, much less function. Bill told him, "with keen difficulty." He was treated past times a rheumatologist from September 2008 through Feb 2009.
Bill began taking methotrexate together with large doses of naproxen. But past times Fall 2008, his symptoms had non improved together with he noticed RA nodes on his fingers together with wrists. He suffered terrible hurting throughout his body. He could no longer handgrip some of the instruments on the bird or achieve the overhead “start” switch amongst his correct hand. Other pilots began carrying his flying bags for him, together with he could no longer ascent from a flooring unassisted. He lost most of the strength inwards his hands, arms together with legs. He idea he would take hold to retire past times Christmas. Depression was tightening its grip, which for Bill was the worst component division of the ordeal aside from the physical hurting itself. The hurting together with depression were destroying his life.
In December, his methotrexate was doubled together with that, together amongst 2,000mg of naproxen a day, seemed to assist some. He was soundless inwards hurting but able to business office better. Then rashes together with burns from the methotrexate started appearing on his arms. He also started having ulcers inwards his oral cavity together with terrible hemorrhoids. He had no appetite. He lost nigh 20 pounds--quickly. My aunt’s hubby told Bill nigh a mass he had found inwards his search for an effective handling for my aunt's arthritis. Bill read the book, The New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammell (1998), which discussed inwards keen item the evolution of AP therapy, the clinical trials proving its effectiveness, together with the role politics together with profits take hold played inwards suppressing the availability of the handling inwards the U.S.
The mass explained that earlier steroids such every bit cortisone together with prednisone were developed, inflammatory arthritis was to a greater extent than often than non considered to live caused past times persistent infection rather than an autoimmune or metabolic “disorder”. In the 1930s, Thomas MacPherson Brown, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University together with the Rockefeller Institute--who eventually became Dean of Medicine at George Washington University Medical School together with Director of the Arthritis Institute at the National Hospital inwards Arlington, Virginia--successfully isolated a substance he called mycoplasma from the articulation fluid of arthritis patients. Brown believed the mycoplasmas were remnants from past times bacterial infections such every bit strep or chlamydia, together with that some individuals eventually--years after the initial infection inwards many cases--develop a heightened sensitivity or allergy to the mycoplasmas. However, the mycoplasmas are so similar to human connective tissue cells that our immune systems take hold difficulty distinguishing betwixt the two, together with when an individual’s immune scheme attempts to destroy the mycoplasmas, some of the connective tissues are harmed inwards the process.
The infectious theory of arthritis was gaining momentum inwards the U.S. until the 1940s, when a researcher isolated cortisone. Cortisone seemed at foremost to piece of work wonderfully on arthritis inflammation (although nosotros at nowadays know it only relieves the symptoms temporarily together with does non halt progression of the underlying disease). In fact, cortisone seemed so promising initially that the U.S. regime diverted countless inquiry dollars into evolution of steroid treatments. Funding for infectious theory inquiry mostly dried up, together with numerous influential individuals acquired reputational together with fiscal interests inwards the successful marketing of steroids. In the 1950s, Dr. Brown, a founder of the American Rheumatism Association (“ARA”), spoke publicly against using large doses of steroids due to their potentially devastating wellness effects. He was promptly asked to leave of absence the Public Relations Committee of the ARA together with branded a heretic past times the rheumatology community for his trouble.
Brown together with other like-minded colleagues around the world, specially inwards Europe together with the Netherlands, continued inquiry on the infectious theory of arthritis, including clinical trials of sure tetracycline-derivative antibiotics. Dr. Brown treated over 10,000 patients amongst the AP, the vast bulk of whom got better, according to Scammell. At to the lowest degree i of Dr. Brown’s patients testified earlier Congress nigh the therapy, together with the number of doctors inwards the U.S. treating patients amongst AP grew to several thousand. The National Institute of Health conducted an unpublished experiment inwards which mycoplasma hominis from an arthritic human articulation was injected into 3 chimpanzees’ knees. The injections induced arthritis inwards the knees of all 3 chimps. Dr. Brown died inwards the belatedly 1980s, but inquiry together with clinical experience take hold continued since so to back upward his findings that sure tetracycline-derivative antibiotics, given inwards the correct dose for a sufficient menstruum of time, are effective inwards treating arthritis. The next are just a few examples from my ain inquiry into the studies together with clinical trials:
- 1992 -- Results of an Israeli study past times rheumatologist Pnina Langevitz together with iv colleagues treating patients amongst AP were published inwards Journal of Rheumatology, noting statistically pregnant improvement.
- 1993-- Dr. Ferdinand Breedveld together with Dutch colleagues presented results inwards San Antonio of a six-month AP trial on lxxx Dutch patients amongst advanced RA, indicating pregnant improvement inwards both symptoms together with laboratory findings, together with that articulation improvement to a greater extent than often than non begins at nigh twelve weeks after kickoff AP. The results were published inwards 1994, inwards the American Journal, Arthritis together with Rheumatism.
- 1991 through 1993-- The National Institute of Health sponsored 3-year trials of the tetracycline-derivative minocycline inwards treating RA (“MIRA Trials”). The trial results were finally published inwards 1995, together with showed minocycline to live effective, despite procedural biases during the study inwards favor of its failure. For example, most of the patients inwards the placebo grouping were given increasing doses of anti-inflammatories together with corticosteroid injections during the study, spell the bulk of minocycline patients really decreased their anti-inflammatories. See Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 122, No. 2, 81-89 (Jan. 15, 1995), together with Scammel mass word of Dr. Raymond L. Gorden’s analysis, pp. 22-24.
- 1995 together with 1997-- Dr. James O’Dell, University of Nebraska Medical School, reported results of a study on minocycline inwards handling of arthritis. In 1995, 65% of patients taking minocycline had improved past times 50% or more, together with 1/3 of the patients were inwards remission. In 1997, O’Dell reported a 3-year follow-up on the same patients. After 3 years, 44% of the patients had improved past times 75% or more. After the initial 6-month blinded portion of the study, the minocycline was stopped. All of the patients who had taken the minocycline flared at some dot after it was stopped, together with almost all of those who had initially responded to the minocycline responded i time to a greater extent than when it was restarted. See “Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis amongst Minocycline or Placebo: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial” inwards Arthritis Rheum, Vol. 40, No. 5, 842-848 (May 1997); run into also O’Dell, et. al., “Minocycline Therapy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Continued Efficacy at Three Years” (abstract), 61st Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, 1997.
- 1997 -- Rheumatologist Kenneth Brandt reported that doxycycline was beneficial inwards slowing progression of osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rhumatism, Vol. 52, No. 7, 2015-2025 (June 2005).
- 1999 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 four-year follow-up of the O’Dell study reported long-term handling amongst minocycline resulted inwards “superior (and inwards some cases dramatic) results,” together with “our findings together with those of other investigators propose that the maximum do goodness of minocycline does non occur until after 1 twelvemonth of therapy.” The study also mentions that “it is clearly possible that an infectious agent volition live shown to play a role inwards the pathogenesis of RA.” Arthritis & Rheumatism, Vol. 42, No. 8, 1691-1695 (Aug. 1999).
- 2001 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 two-year study comparison efficacy of minocycline versus the conventional DMARD hydroxychloroquine inwards treating RA. Minocycline was found to live much to a greater extent than effective. Arthritis & Rheumatism, Vol. 44, No. 10, 2235-2241 (October 2001).
- 2004 -- Carter, et. al. published a study indicating the antibiotics doxycycline together with rifampin used together are beneficial inwards treating undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, perchance resulting from Chlamydia infection. J. Rheumatol at 1973-80 (Oct. 2004).
- 2006 -- O’Dell, et. al. published a 2-year study comparison handling of RA past times doxycycline paired amongst methotrexate versus methotrexate alone. Results indicated that adding the doxycycline made a pregnant difference. Arthritis & Rheumatism, Vol. 54, No. 2, 621-627 (2006).
- 2007 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Turkish study evaluating the efficacy of clarithromycin inwards patients amongst early on active RA concluded "treatment amongst clarithromycin significantly improved the signs together with symptoms." Ogrendik, M., "Effects of Clarithromycin inwards Patients amongst active Rheumatoid Arthritis" inwards Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Mar: 23(3): 515-22.
- 2009 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Japanese study concluded Chlamydia Pneumoniae “is belike involved inwards the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases,” including RA together with lupus. See Fujita, et. al., “Acute Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infection inwards the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases”, Lupus, Vol. 18, No. 2, 164-168 (2009).
- 2009 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 University of Nebraska study suggests infection amongst P. gingivalis may live linked to RA inwards some patients. Mikuls, et. al., “Antibody Responses to Porphyromonas Gingivalis inwards Subjects amongst Rheumatoid Arthritis together with Periodontitis” inwards Int. Innumopharmacol. Vol. 9, No. 1, 38-42 (Jan. 2009).
- 2011 -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Turkish randomized trial evaluating the efficacy of roxithromycin inwards handling of RA for patients who had non responded to DMARDS concluded the roxithromycin "significantly improved the signs together with symptoms of RA." Ogrendik together with Karagoz, "Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis amongst Roxithromycin: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Randomized Trial" inwards Postgrad Med. 2011 Sep; 123(5):220-7.
The AP has been gaining credence past times the medical community inwards recent years, but far also tardily for the many patients soundless suffering. Medical schools take hold taught rheumatologists for over 50 years that arthritis is an autoimmune or metabolic disorder, together with antibiotics thus volition non help. At the fourth dimension Dr. Brown published his findings inwards a book, The Road Back (1988), the ARA strategically sent out a “Fact Sheet” to every fellow member (i.e., physicians), attacking Brown’s theories nigh mycoplasmas together with his usage of AP inwards treating arthritis. As of Nov 4, 2009, the American College of Rheumatology (the professional person association of physicians treating arthritis) fifty-fifty begrudgingly admitted on its website that the tetracycline derivative minocycline is beneficial to arthritis sufferers, although the arrangement soundless stubbornly adhered to its master copy claims that “rheumatoid arthritis is non an infection.” As of July 30, 2012, the ARA lists minocycline every bit i of the medications most commonly used to care for RA, saying it "may improve the signs together with symptoms." The ARA has also slightly backed off its firm stance that RA is "not an infection." Now the patient information says RA is "not idea to live caused past times an infection." It appears fifty-fifty the ARA is finally starting to come upward around.
The NIH’s spider web site currently makes no cite of the extensive inquiry into AP therapy which the NIH itself together with other researchers take hold performed. At to the lowest degree ii clinical trials on minocycline together with doxycycline which were completed inwards 2006 together with 2001 respectively are listed on the NIH website clinicaltrials.gov, but the results were never posted to the site. I was able to discovery the results of the doxycycline study inwards the June 2005 number of Arthritis & Rheumatism. The portion of the NIH website designed for patient teaching makes no cite of antibiotics every bit a possible handling for arthritis at all, except an obscure reference inwards the “Arthritis together with Rheumatic Diseases” information handout related to Reiter’s Syndrome together with “Infectious Arthritis,” which the site represents every bit a sub-class of patients divide from RA or lupus. Antibiotics are non listed amidst the numerous medications identified on the site every bit treatments for RA or lupus. Interestingly, however, every bit of July 2012, several novel clinical trials testing antibiotics for arthritis are listed on the clinicaltrials.gov site every bit currently nether way. Clearly, the results of previous studies take hold been compelling plenty to inspire researchers to proceed testing AP therapies for arthritis.
It appears most rheumatologists take hold non been provided amongst consummate information nigh the clinical trials; otherwise, why would they proceed to resist trying the much safer AP on their patients earlier resorting to the to a greater extent than unsafe Metabolic Drugs? Why would they resist trying the AP handling which really fights the illness itself without the demand for increased doses over the long term, rather than the Metabolic Drugs which only temporarily salve symptoms together with inevitably lose their effectiveness, requiring higher together with to a greater extent than unsafe doses? Perhaps some rheumatologists experience their livelihoods threatened past times the notion of arthritis every bit an infectious illness or every bit treatable amongst antibiotics. Our doc is a GP, together with nosotros take hold heard that increasing numbers of DO’s are at nowadays offering AP to their patients. Of course, fewer blood tests together with fewer business office visits are also needed when a patient is on the AP protocol, because inwards contrast to the Metabolic Drugs, it is non necessary to hold increasing dosages or every bit closely monitor for toxic effects of the AP on patients’ bodies (such every bit livers together with kidneys).
The NIH’s spider web site currently makes no cite of the extensive inquiry into AP therapy which the NIH itself together with other researchers take hold performed. At to the lowest degree ii clinical trials on minocycline together with doxycycline which were completed inwards 2006 together with 2001 respectively are listed on the NIH website clinicaltrials.gov, but the results were never posted to the site. I was able to discovery the results of the doxycycline study inwards the June 2005 number of Arthritis & Rheumatism. The portion of the NIH website designed for patient teaching makes no cite of antibiotics every bit a possible handling for arthritis at all, except an obscure reference inwards the “Arthritis together with Rheumatic Diseases” information handout related to Reiter’s Syndrome together with “Infectious Arthritis,” which the site represents every bit a sub-class of patients divide from RA or lupus. Antibiotics are non listed amidst the numerous medications identified on the site every bit treatments for RA or lupus. Interestingly, however, every bit of July 2012, several novel clinical trials testing antibiotics for arthritis are listed on the clinicaltrials.gov site every bit currently nether way. Clearly, the results of previous studies take hold been compelling plenty to inspire researchers to proceed testing AP therapies for arthritis.
It appears most rheumatologists take hold non been provided amongst consummate information nigh the clinical trials; otherwise, why would they proceed to resist trying the much safer AP on their patients earlier resorting to the to a greater extent than unsafe Metabolic Drugs? Why would they resist trying the AP handling which really fights the illness itself without the demand for increased doses over the long term, rather than the Metabolic Drugs which only temporarily salve symptoms together with inevitably lose their effectiveness, requiring higher together with to a greater extent than unsafe doses? Perhaps some rheumatologists experience their livelihoods threatened past times the notion of arthritis every bit an infectious illness or every bit treatable amongst antibiotics. Our doc is a GP, together with nosotros take hold heard that increasing numbers of DO’s are at nowadays offering AP to their patients. Of course, fewer blood tests together with fewer business office visits are also needed when a patient is on the AP protocol, because inwards contrast to the Metabolic Drugs, it is non necessary to hold increasing dosages or every bit closely monitor for toxic effects of the AP on patients’ bodies (such every bit livers together with kidneys).
Since Dr. Brown’s death, the physicians who take hold been prescribing the AP for their arthritis patients take hold gained additional insights into improving the success charge per unit of measurement of the treatment. For example, they take hold learned that patients should non swallow sure mineral supplements such every bit magnesium or calcium within a brace of hours earlier or after taking their antibiotic, because the interaction of the antibiotic amongst the minerals prevents the antibiotic from working every bit effectively. Some doctors take hold found that usage of artificial sweeteners or also much carbohydrate inwards a patient’s diet makes a pregnant departure inwards the effectiveness of the AP. Experienced doctors take hold learned to explicate the Jarisch-Herxheimer (or “Herxheimer”) reaction to their patients from the beginning, so the patients do non go discouraged together with surrender on the handling just earlier they are due to start feeling much, much better. They take hold also developed additional insights into pick of antibiotic together with dosage. Some doctors are at nowadays successfully using lower doses of antibiotic inwards their clinics than those used inwards the studies, amongst fewer patients developing hypersensitivity to the antibiotics. They are also finding that inwards many cases where one antibiotic is non effective, some other (or a combination of antibiotics) may piece of work real good for the same patient.
Bill's Case (Continued): Well, after reading the Scammell book, Bill discussed AP therapy amongst his ain rheumatologist, who adamantly insisted that AP was “a waste materials of time” together with would create him experience worse instead of better. In the meantime, Bill was able to do some piece of work inwards the yard again, but noticed scratches on his arms would non heal. He also developed a large chemic give notice on his leg. Methotrexate was the prime number suspect. He took his finally dose on Feb 4, 2009 together with made an appointment amongst Dr. Rima Kittley, a full general practitioner in Lufkin, Texas, who offers AP to her arthritis patients. In fact, Dr. Kittley has been treating herself together with her ain woman bring upward for arthritis amongst AP for--at the fourth dimension of Bill's appointment--over 20 years, together with told Bill that without AP, she “would non live functioning.”
She prescribed a depression dose of pelletized Minocin (a brand-name of minocycline) to live taken daily for an indefinite menstruum (long-term), together with recommended using gentle doses of naproxen every bit needed to cut inflammation until the antibiotics really started to boot in, along amongst fish stone oil together with vitamin D. She cautioned Bill that it would belike pick out several months--at a minimum--to determine whether the Minocin was an effective antibiotic for his particular case. She mentioned i patient of hers, for example, who was wheelchair-bound amongst arthritis when she began treating him. Dr. Kittley said it took 3 years, but she gradually identified the most effective antibiotic for that patient, together with at nowadays he was out of the wheelchair together with doing great.
Bill began taking Minocin on Feb 21, 2009. Within 5 days, he started to experience a piffling better. He soundless hurt, but his release energy had improved. In ii weeks, his release energy improved a piffling more. The depression began to lift. After 30 days of real gradual improvement on the Minocin, he tried taking the generic shape of minocycline. Within 3 days of starting the generic, he was literally unable to go out of bed. He switched dorsum to the Minocin together with began to experience much ameliorate again. By April, he could lift his correct arm high plenty to achieve the overhead instruments inwards the airplane.
About 3 months after kickoff Minocin, Bill really began to run into results. He could i time once to a greater extent than fully extend together with fully rotate both his arms. His knees together with feet were soundless bothering him together with he soundless could non squat or kneel, but he could walk good together with send his flying bags again. Strength was returning to his hands, together with he was able to assist prune the grape vines for the foremost time. Toward the terminate of May, he was able to install an electrical attic vent inwards his roof, walking upward together with downwardly a ladder together with steep roof throughout the day, carrying tools. His knees together with ankles were sore afterward, but he was able to do it. The chemic give notice on his leg had finally begun to heal a little. Some days were ameliorate than others, but overall, he was gradually together with steadily getting much better. His hips stopped hurting. Bill woke upward together with went to the restroom during i nighttime inwards June, together with something seemed different. After a few minutes he realized that for the foremost fourth dimension inwards years, he had climbed out of bed amongst no hurting or stiffness. The RA nodes on his fingers together with wrists had shrunk considerably. In July, Bill was able to install some other attic vent together with passed his bi-annual airplane pilot preparation “check ride” amongst no pain.
In August, nigh half dozen months into AP therapy, Bill had a large flare-up, mostly inwards his knees together with feet. He knew from reading the Scammell mass together with talking to his GP that the flare was only the temporary Herxheimer reaction. This is a widely-recognized together with fairly mutual reaction when antibiotics are used to care for a multifariousness of infectious diseases such every bit Lyme disease, brucellosis, typhoid, etc., inwards which a patient has a temporary outburst or worsening of symptoms during treatment. The prevailing theory for the reaction is that the bacteria release toxins every bit the antibiotic begins to destroy pregnant numbers of them. Worsening symptoms such every bit fever, articulation together with musculus inflammation together with pain, together with malaise are believed to live the body’s reaction to these released toxins, together with are a skilful sign the antibiotics are working. Sure enough, the flare lasted a piffling over ii weeks, together with so he improved dramatically. The adjacent month, Bill completed a preparation computer program which included firing nigh 300 rounds amongst a 40-caliber weapon together with i twenty-four hours of hand-to-hand combat training. The medical staff at the preparation facility had reviewed his medical history prior to the training, which included his blood seek results prior to starting AP. His SED charge per unit of measurement had been 100, together with his RA Factor 189. The preparation staff did non await him to live able to consummate the program. He passed amongst flying colors, together with they all wanted to know what handling he was using for his RA. He was tired at the terminate of the 2nd preparation twenty-four hours together with had sore muscles, but his joints felt just fine.
November 2009 Update: Eight months after Bill began AP therapy. He does non yet take hold the strength inwards his wrists to do push-ups, but they are soundless improving. On Oct 15th, he walked across a tile flooring barefooted together with poured a loving cup of java amongst i hand, amongst no hurting inwards his feet or hands for the foremost fourth dimension inwards years. He at nowadays rarely takes whatever naproxen. His recent blood seek results exhibit his SED charge per unit of measurement has dropped to 37 since kickoff AP, together with his RA constituent has dropped to 122. That is keen word to whatever arthritis patient.
June 2010 Update: Bill has at nowadays been on the AP therapy for a twelvemonth together with iv months, together with his status still continues to improve. He has had a brace of novel milestones just inwards the finally ii months. He tin at nowadays achieve upward behind his caput together with force downwardly straps on his flying harness amongst both arms (new finally month). This weekend, this human being who only a twelvemonth together with a one-half agone literally could non acquire downwardly onto the flooring together with dorsum upward i time to a greater extent than without assistance dropped to the flooring together with showed us several push-ups, which he had non been able to do inwards over 5 years because his wrists could non pick out the weight or pressure. He knocked out those push-ups similar they were nothing, together with sprang dorsum onto his feet. Bill is at nowadays so correspond together with total of release energy his married adult woman tin hardly hold upward amongst him, together with he is basically doing anything he wants.
January 2011 Update: Bill was feeling great. He saw Dr. Kittley inwards Dec for a follow-up. His blood seek results were fantastic! His Rheumatoid Factor (RA Factor) had dropped from 189 when foremost diagnosed amongst RA (July 2008) to 30 (normal make for manlike somebody is <30)! Since Bill was finally treated past times a Rheumatologist inwards Feb 2009, his ASO Titer had dropped from 172 to 134 together with his SED Rate had dropped from 100 to 16 (normal is 0-20 for a male). Bill began working on an information packet for his onetime rheumatologist (we volition telephone phone him "Dr. M"), who had told Bill he did non believe inwards AP therapy for arthritis together with that Bill would live "wasting his time" amongst it. This packet would include notes from ii to a greater extent than of Dr. M's onetime patients who were also at nowadays doing keen on the AP, so hopefully Dr. M would realize that if he was incorrect inwards all 3 cases, maybe he would alter his heed nigh AP therapy inwards general. After word amongst Dr. M, Bill realized all of Dr. M's information nigh AP was over 20 years old. Bill also found a doc inwards Shawnee, Oklahoma, Dr. Gregory Grant, who read the information inwards the foremost article nosotros created together with said he was willing to care for arthritis patients amongst AP therapy upon request. In fact, Dr. Grant treated Bill's father's lupus amongst the AP during the 5 months prior to his father's death.
May 2012 Update: Three years after Bill began AP therapy together with soundless feeling great! His RA Factor has dropped to 29 together with his SED Rate is at nowadays 8. He of late had scar tissue removed from his esophagus due to acid reflux together with impairment caused past times the mega doses of ibuprofen, naproxen together with methotrexate he took prior to kickoff AP.
SALLY'S CASE
Sally's instance is a skilful lesson to retrieve nigh trying antibiotic therapy for RA. She stuck amongst the AP therapy for the long haul despite initially-discouraging results, together with it has paid off inwards spades for her! Her instance also makes clear that if i particular antibiotic does non piece of work effectively on the arthritis, it is worth trying a different one. The most effective antibiotic for a particular instance depends at to the lowest degree inwards component division on the underlying type of infection. There are countless kinds of bacterial infections, together with it is impossible for doctors to seek each somebody for every i of them. This is i argue it is of import for a doc treating arthritis to assemble a thorough medical history for each patient, including past times infections the patient is aware of, every bit this may render crucial clues every bit to the drive of the inflammatory illness together with the antibiotic which is most probable to live effective inwards treating it. Dr. Kittley runs laboratory tests for the most probable underlying infections based inwards component division on the patient's wellness history together with electrical flow symptoms. Sometimes these tests seat potential culprits, but often they do not, together with the doc must essentially create an educated estimate every bit to the most probable effective antibiotic or combination of antibiotics that volition piece of work on a given case. As Sally's instance poignantly demonstrates, this tin live real hard for the patient, but it tin also reap spectacular benefits inwards the long run.
My friend Sally had suffered from RA for over 20 years. She had been real active prior to the onset of her illness, jogging together with lifting weights, together with seemed real healthy. She worked 45+ hours a calendar week at a veterinarian clinic, cared for 20-30 rescue animals at home, together with held pet adoption fairs every other weekend. Around 1990 she developed hurting inwards her knees that was so bad she had to usage crutches. The hurting disappeared after a brace of days. By 1992, she had problem getting motivated to do her workouts, because "it felt similar I was wearing the weights instead of lifting them." In 1995, she had recurring human foot pain, despite a cortisone injection, together with began seeing a rheumatologist.
About a twelvemonth after her RA diagnosis, she awoke i morning time amongst so much hurting all over her torso that she could non displace or do anything for herself. Her hubby had to brush her pilus together with teeth for her. The rheumatologist seat her on mega doses of prednisone together with started her on methotrexate. She has had ii such severe flares during the past times xv years, both of which required high doses of steroids earlier she could business office again. Throughout the course of study of the disease, she has had many slightly less severe flares inwards which she was able to walk but could non piece of work for weeks at a time, could non usage her hand, etc. She has had multiple surgeries on her feet. When she began taking methotrexate, it made her so sick at foremost that she had to cut her piece of work calendar week from 5 days to iv (so she could live dwelling theatre sick the twenty-four hours after taking it each week). The methotrexate stopped working after nigh a twelvemonth or so, so her rheumatologist switched her to Arava (an immunosuppressant), inwards add-on to the 10-20mg of prednisone she was soundless taking daily. Even amongst Arava, she had flares together with had to pick out to a greater extent than prednisone. During this time, she has often had so much hurting inwards her left mitt together with wrist that she could non fifty-fifty usage it to take hold a java cup. Otherwise, the prednisone together with Arava controlled the hurting together with inflammation inwards her other joints pretty good most of the time. She had some stiffness together with tenderness inwards diverse joints, especially when the barometer was dropping, but to a greater extent than often than non not also bad. In 2005, Sally's blood tests indicated her RA Factor was 208. She had to cutting her piece of work hours dorsum significantly together with halt her brute rescue because of the RA. In 2006, she had to retire from the veterinarian clinic, because she could no longer physically perform many of her chore functions such every bit asset the animals for the vet. Sometimes she could non fifty-fifty take hold a pencil.
In 2009, I told Sally nigh the AP therapy. She "was real skeptical together with afraid of the hurting a alter mightiness bring." However, Sally made the long trip to Lufkin to run into Dr. Kittley inwards June 2009. Blood tests at that fourth dimension indicated her RA constituent was 109 (normal is <30), CCP was 93 (normal <20), C-Reactive idealproteinreviews was 1.2 (normal <0.8). Dr. Kittley told Sally to halt taking the Arava immediately. Because her medical history included strep pharynx together with a past times chlamydia infection, together with azithromycin tends to live most effective inwards treating these, the GP started her on azithromycin amongst the intention of switching from azithromycin to Minocin at 3 to iv months. She also told Sally to pick out B-complex, B12 injections, Omega 3, DHEA, probiotic together with Mobic. She cautioned Sally that because she had been taking prednisone for such a long menstruum of time, it would belike live nigh a twelvemonth earlier she could start to wean her off the prednisone. She also emphasized that Sally’s recovery would probable pick out longer because her arthritis was so advanced.
Sally stopped taking the Arava, reduced her prednisone to 5mg per day, and began the azithromycin. Her joints stiffened together with warmed. She was able to business office pretty well, although her left mitt together with wrists continued to often take hold severe hurting (at which times she was unable to usage them). After nigh 10 weeks on AP, Sally had a pregnant flare which lasted nigh ii weeks. Joints all over her torso were sore. She could walk, but every motion was painful.
Fall 2009 Update: At 3 months on AP, Sally returned to Dr. Kittley and told her that she was kickoff to experience ameliorate except for her left hand. Dr. Kittley told her the excruciating hurting inwards her left mitt together with wrist was carpal tunnel, impairment already caused past times the long-term inflammation of the RA. She said the mitt would belike require surgery, together with Sally should run into a neurologist for that. The doc also switched Sally from azithromycin to Minocin. During her 4th calendar month on AP therapy, Sally had 3 weeks with no stiffness or hurting inwards her joints (except for the carpal tunnel). The neurologist told Sally that surgery volition pick out attention of the carpal tunnel hurting permanently.
November 2009 Update: About 5 months into AP therapy, Sally said she went through the Herxheimer reaction. She could do null without a keen bargain of pain, together with did non slumber for 3 nights because of the carpal tunnel hurting inwards her left wrist. After nigh a month, she began to experience better. She had surgery on her carpal tunnel.
April 2010 Update: About ten months into AP therapy, Sally was soundless having a tough time; inwards fact, she was having a lot of hurting together with was spending a lot of fourth dimension inwards bed, also sore to move. In desperation, she went back to run into Dr. Kittley, together with the doc decided to "hit it hard" past times doubling Sally's Minocin together with adding Clindomycin to the mix. She also insisted that Sally go completely gluten-free for at to the lowest degree 30-45 days.
June 2010 Update: Sally informed me that she has been feeling so skilful that she is gardening, cleaning house, cooking together with making mosaics again. She also said that fifty-fifty amongst all the storms together with tornadoes nosotros take hold had during the past times month, she has non had whatever flares. Normally, she could always predict oncoming pelting due to her arthritis flares. At this point, nosotros are not certain whether it is the novel combination of antibiotics or the gluten-free diet that is working for Sally.
Fall 2011 Update: Sally's arthritis has continued to improve every day. She is no longer on the gluten-free diet--it seems to live the antibiotics that worked inwards her case. She cruel together with broke her dorsum inwards the wintertime of 2010, together with had surgery inwards Oct 2011 to supersede 3 discs together with "put things dorsum where they belong." The surgery required about eight inches of metallic screws together with plates, together with the surrounding muscles together with tissues had to live disturbed (moved around) inwards guild for the surgeons to access the implant locations. Even through all of that together with the grueling recovery, her RA never flared! Impressively, her SED Rate inwards Oct was 19.
July 2012 Update: Sally has at nowadays been on AP therapy for 3 years together with is doing fantastic. In her words, "I am wonderful. No RA!" She is no longer taking whatever prednisone, which she had taken for 17 years! Nor is she taking whatever Mobic, B12 shots, etc., anymore. She had to pick out narcotic hurting medications for years, together with at nowadays she no longer takes those either. She is at nowadays only taking the Minocin together with vitamins for her arthritis, together with a piffling Ibuprofen "once inwards a while, together with only for 'old lady' aches," such every bit occasional soreness from the trauma to her back. Sally of late saw a doc inwards Shawnee, Oklahoma, much nearer to her dwelling theatre town, who has agreed to proceed Sally's long-term Minocin therapy. Sally has been re-staining the outside of her home, epitome walls, traveling together with staying busy inwards general. Sally says, "I'm great. Feel ameliorate than I take hold prior to 1995!"
CRISTI'S CASE
In 2001, my gynecologist said my blood tests indicated the possibility I had lupus or some other shape of arthritis, together with amongst my symptoms (stiffness, severe fatigue, fevers, chills, torso aches, excruciating ulcers inwards my oral cavity together with so forth), I should belike run into a rheumatologist. I seat it off, hoping he was wrong. In the Spring of 2006, I had a severe pregnancy-related illness which required 50mg of prednisone daily. After the pregnancy ended I weaned off the prednisone. I directly began having problem amongst my knees, together with other joints together with muscles presently followed suit. Exercise, which had e'er made me experience ameliorate inwards the past, at nowadays just made me experience worse. Another OBGYN together with an orthopedic surgeon both suspected lupus together with suggested I run into a rheumatologist, but I continued to seat it off. I had learned from the experiences of other arthritis patients that all the rheumatologists could do was seat a temporary band-aid on the symptoms, together with their arsenal of Metabolic Drugs would eventually do me to a greater extent than harm than good. I did non desire to start downwardly that road, so I decided to just seat upward amongst the hurting every bit long every bit possible.
The illness seemed to accelerate during Spring 2009, together with I found myself able to do less of the activities I used to enjoy. I could non kneel, squat or sit down downwardly without knee articulation pain. Rising from the flooring became a 3-step operation. My fingers began swelling, tingling together with changing shape. My wrists began to stiffen up. Driving, operating our tractor, opening jars together with asset plates inwards my hands became painful. Chronic dorsum together with cervix aches made it hard to slumber at night. Muscles frequenly became sore for piffling or no reason. I often had to shift from i sitting seat to some other to avoid stiffening upward all over. Eventually, fifty-fifty my hips together with shoulders began to stiffen. Most painful of all was the peripheral neuropathy that developed inwards my feet. I could non stand upward inwards i seat for to a greater extent than than nigh 15 seconds earlier both feet began to tingle together with throb all over. I came to dread using my lower kitchen cabinets together with standing inwards the kitchen or check-out lines at stores. I began noticing problems amongst retentiveness together with concentration. It became all also like shooting fish in a barrel to imagine a close hereafter inwards which I could no longer practise law, maintain the yard, create things, or fifty-fifty hold a create clean house. I had piffling release energy to give our ii small-scale children or my husband; inwards fact, it felt similar I was wearing a Pb suit pretty much all the time. I was spending an increasing amount of fourth dimension on the sofa amongst fevers, burning joints, together with just apparently exhaustion. People commented that I looked anemic. By summertime I was starting to experience similar a human barometer. Desperation was setting in.
After watching Bill steadily improve for a brace of months on AP therapy, I read the Scammell book. I saw Dr. Kittley in Texas. She listened to my wellness history together with ran a number of blood tests, the results of which were, for the most part, "indeterminate." I had this "inflammatory arthritis" together with fibromyalgia matter going on, the symptoms of which were real real, but the specific drive of which remained a mystery. None of the specific infections she tested came dorsum abnormal, together with she told me she could seek me for thousands of infections without necessarily every finding out which one (or ones) were causing the trouble. She suspected I mightiness take hold Celiac Disease (essentially a gluten allergy), which could live causing my arthritis symptoms. Before starting the antibiotics, she had me seek a 100% gluten-free diet for nigh half dozen weeks. My symptoms did non improve on the diet, so nosotros were able to dominion out Celiac.
Dr. Kittley cautioned me non to await pregnant improvement on the Minocin for at to the lowest degree half dozen months, together with that I should only pick out the brand-name, pelletized Minocin, because inwards her experience, the generic minocycline did non piece of work every bit good on humans. I began taking 100mg of Minocin daily on June 29, 2009. After nigh ii weeks on AP, my stamina improved a little. Around calendar week five, my hips, elbows together with shoulders, which had begun flaring regularly only a few months earlier starting AP therapy, were all of a abrupt symptom-free again. At the terminate of ii months, I noticed that for the foremost fourth dimension inwards over 3 years I could kneel or squat together with ascent upward i time to a greater extent than without whatever hurting inwards my knees together with without using my arms to assist force myself dorsum up. My knees were soundless warm together with tingly, but fifty-fifty this was less intense than earlier AP. As the weeks progressed, my knees continued consistently pain-free from twenty-four hours to day. I really had ii days inwards which I was totally symptom-free except my feet. It felt amazing--and I promptly over-exerted myself. One twenty-four hours during calendar week twelve, I replaced a vinyl flooring together with installed a can for a relative. I was upward together with downwardly on my knees repeatedly for over ii hours earlier they began to stiffen up. By the terminate of the twenty-four hours I was rigid all over, but within ii days my knees were pain-free i time to a greater extent than together with my other joints were every bit skilful every bit they had been earlier the renovation project. I continued to improve real gradually through calendar week fifteen. Overall, my torso stopped stiffening upward every bit much every bit earlier when I sat downwardly or held a plate or bowl. My fingers together with wrists were much ameliorate than before. I was soundless having dorsum pain, fevers together with chills occasionally, however, together with my feet had non improved at all. Dr. Kittley said the neuropathic hurting inwards my feet is a outcome of the arthritis inflammation together with volition eventually clear upward every bit the arthritis goes into remission. My release energy was soundless non great, no uncertainty inwards component division because the backaches were (although non every bit intense) soundless keeping me from sleeping at night. All inwards all, some days were ameliorate than others, but every twenty-four hours was ameliorate than earlier I started AP.
After taking the Minocin for iv months, I went through the Herxheimer reaction every bit expected. My joints all flared for nigh 3 weeks, fifty-fifty joints which had non bothered me for ii months. I had almost constant fever together with my muscles were sore all over. It felt lousy. Having read the Scammell mass together with seen Bill flare, I was initially confident the worsening symptoms were just Herxheimer together with I would start to experience much ameliorate soon; however, it tin live hard to remain so confident when it feels similar the illness is dorsum amongst a vengeance. I thus did additional inquiry regarding the Herxheimer reaction, seeking independent corroboration that it is a well-established phenomenon inwards the basis of infectious disease. I found plenty.
I began to experience much ameliorate on Oct 22nd. The fevers subsided. My muscles stopped hurting. The stiffness together with burning inwards my joints became mild again. On Oct 24th I kicked a soccer ball around inwards the yard amongst our kids, amongst real piffling pain. On Halloween, I chopped, stirred together with cooked all day, climbed a ladder repeatedly to hang decorations, so danced the “Monster Mash” amongst my kids, amongst no articulation hurting at all. For the foremost fourth dimension inwards decades, I take hold non had an ulcer inwards my oral cavity inwards over a calendar month (in fact, iv months). My feet soundless hurt, but the doc says the neuropathy volition simply pick out to a greater extent than fourth dimension to clear up. My joints are soundless a piffling tender off together with on, but I am at nowadays real confident that my recovery volition follow the same course of study every bit Bill’s together with I volition presently live feeling ameliorate than I take hold inwards years.
June 2010 Update: In Nov 2009 (five months into AP therapy), my joints improved considerably, except for my hip, which bothered me just plenty that I limped most of the month. The knees really seemed to live cleared upward though, which was a major improvement. I was soundless tired all the time, together with the fevers became worse again--seeming to laid inwards for life. I found that every afternoon, almost without fail, I developed a fever at to the lowest degree 1-2 degrees higher than my normal temperature. For the adjacent 3 months, I seemed to plateau off--joints non getting whatever worse, but non whatever ameliorate either. Then inwards belatedly Feb 2010 (eight months on Minocin), I began to notice some improvement again, together with for the foremost ii weeks of March, I had zero symptoms of arthritis inwards my joints. the fevers were soundless just every bit bad though. On March 15, I had a hysterectomy, together with during the foremost 10 days or so after the surgery, I was out of my usual routine together with did non pick out the Minocin regularly. At this point, I began to take hold some mild stiffness i time to a greater extent than inwards some of my joints (although the knees were soundless completely symptom-free), together with developed several ulcers within my oral cavity for the foremost fourth dimension inwards nine months.
I started taking the Minocin daily i time to a greater extent than together with within some other 10 days was completely symptom-free--no ulcers, no articulation stiffness, and no fevers! In fact, I felt skilful plenty that I was prepare to opened upward my constabulary practise to the public. I leased an business office infinite together with began remodeling it. This included framing walls, hanging drywall, texturing, pigment together with trim work. In 3 weeks, I was belike upward together with downwardly my ladder at to the lowest degree 500 times, amongst no symptoms inwards my knees whatsoever. I used a hammer together with screw gun together with balanced a drywall hawk on my left wrist (using a trowel amongst the other hand) for hours on terminate amongst no sore joints whatsoever. Six months earlier I could non balance a saucer on my left mitt for 5 minutes without hurting inwards my wrist. I was on my feet for twelve hours directly for several days inwards a row amongst no throbbing inwards my feet. I am at nowadays a confirmed believer inwards the AP therapy. Last calendar week I was so busy that I forgot to pick out my Minocin for 3 or iv days, together with sure enough, I tin tell the difference. Yesterday together with today I take hold mild stiffness inwards my wrists, together with yesterday my hip bothered me a piffling (although my knees soundless went upward together with downwardly the ladder at to the lowest degree 50 times yesterday amongst no symptoms at all). Needless to say, it reminded me to pick out my medicine. It is simple--when I pick out the AP regularly, I acquire better. When I forget to pick out it a brace of days, I acquire worse.
July 2012 Update: My arthritis symptoms steadily continued to improve during the balance of 2010 together with 2011. I found it curious that the hurting would displace from i location inwards my torso to some other every few days, almost every bit if the antibiotics were--figuratively speaking--chasing the infection around within me, together with it was running out of places to hide. I felt similar I had grown at to the lowest degree 20 years younger--all the fatigue, fevers, aches, stiffness, oral cavity ulcers, etc. were completely gone. The Pb suit was gone. I felt awesome! For a twelvemonth together with a half, I had no symptoms of arthritis.
In the fountain of 2011, nosotros moved to Istanbul, Turkey for ii months. Minocin was non available inwards Turkey, so I switched to Tetradox, which is their version of doxycycline. During that ii months, I trevelled throughout Turkey, several Greek islands, together with Italy, lugging suitcases through prepare stations together with walking many miles through hot, hilly archaeological sites together with medieval villages, amongst all kinds of release energy together with no symptoms of arthritis. I returned to Oklahoma inwards the summer, together with throughout the autumn I was nether severe mental together with physical strain due to events affecting our family. I forgot to pick out my antibiotic a brace of times a week, together with I really ran out of the Tetradox brought dorsum from Turkey a calendar week or ii earlier I had fourth dimension to acquire a novel prescription for the antibiotics.
My arthritis symptoms began to creep dorsum during the winter. I was soundless able to do pretty much anything Iwanted, but some muscles together with joints began to stiffen a piffling when I was non constantly moving. My feet began hurting a piffling again. Two of my toenails came off for no apparent reason. In Feb 2012, I saw Dr. Kittley again. Our wellness insurance had changed, together with Minocin became much to a greater extent than costly for us. I asked Dr. Kittley if it would live okay to seek switching from the Minocin to doxycycline, since I seemed to do so good on it inwards Istanbul. We tried doxycycline. Dr. Kittley said the toenails had briefly stopped growing together with ultimately came off every bit a outcome of the severe stress on my encephalon together with torso during the past times several months. In add-on to continuing the antibiotic therapy, Dr. Kittley wanted me to seek some other elimination diet--what she called a sort of modified "cave-man" diet--in guild to dominion out the possibility nutrient sensitivities mightiness live aggravating my condition. This diet was similar to the Celiac diet I had tried before, but eliminated many other foods every bit well. I tried the diet, but my symptoms continued to worsen.
By May, the arthritis was flaring significantly (although non every bit badly every bit earlier I foremost began the AP therapy inwards 2009). My muscles were rigid together with sore, my feet throbbed, together with I was constantly exhausted. It became hard to opened upward a subway scheme of toothpaste together with impossible to connect the air compressor hose to my boom gun because my thumbs were hurting. The thumbnails fifty-fifty began to hurt. The boom beds became inflamed together with red, despite the fact I had no fungal infections together with had non done anything to wound either thumb. This continued for a brace weeks together with began to displace into my index fingernails every bit well. Ulcers occasionally tried to shape within my oral cavity for the foremost fourth dimension inwards almost 3 years, although none of them became large or painful similar they e'er had inwards the past.
I had some other appointment amongst Dr. Kittley inwards early on June. She said the Minocin seemed to piece of work ameliorate for me than the doxycycline was, together with that Minocin tended to piece of work ameliorate for "deep tissue" infections. So she switched me dorsum from doxycycline. She said the drug society was no longer manufacturing the create hollo Minocin, but they were soundless making the generic minocycline, so she prescribed that together with reminded me to give the minocycline at to the lowest degree half dozen months earlier expecting pregnant symptom improvement. She also said the severe stress of the previous autumn had undoubtedly trashed my adrenal glands, so she recommended taking DHEA for adrenal support. She also reminded me to pick out vitamin D3 (which my recent blood tests showed was a piffling low), together with B12 which tends to live helpful inwards treating nervus issues similar my fibromyalgia, the neuropathy inwards my feet, etc. I cannot pick out B12 orally because it upsets my stomach, so she prescribed injections. Within 3 days after changing from the doxycycline to minocycline, the hurting together with redness inwards my fingernail beds began to disappear. The thumbnails eventually separated partially from the beds, but at that spot is salubrious novel growth coming in. Some of the musculus stiffness improved.
It is belatedly July, together with I am soundless able to do physical activities such every bit shoveling together with hammering amongst piffling discomfort inwards the muscles or joints spell I am moving, but I stiffen upward all over when I sit down downwardly fifty-fifty for just a few minutes. My feet wound every bit badly every bit they ever have, regardless of whether I stand upward or sit down now. I occasionally pick out 660mg of naproxen for the pain, but lately it has no effect so I usually just skip it. The low-grade fevers are regular daily visitors again. The worst component division is the constant, unrelenting feeling of profound exhaustion together with malaise. My limbs experience so heavy all the fourth dimension I experience similar I am dragging myself around inwards tiresome motion. I experience headachy together with my encephalon feels a fleck foggy at times. Memory together with concentration are much to a greater extent than hard than is normal for me when I am non flaring. I think I may live Herxheimering again. The moral of my instance history? Stay on rail amongst the antibiotics. Take them diligently--especially during periods of extreme stress. I await that my symptoms volition start to gradually improve within the adjacent brace months, just every bit they did the foremost fourth dimension I started taking the Minocin.
There is a 2nd moral to my story every bit well. In direct contrast amongst the steroids together with other immunosuppressant drugs traditionally prescribed for arthritis, antibiotic therapy is designed to piece of work together amongst our immune systems (although some inwards the medical profession debate the antibiotics really business office to a greater extent than every bit DMARDs when used to care for arthritis, together with inwards whatever lawsuit the exact machinery past times which they piece of work is currently unknown). Antibiotics works best when our immune systems are supported past times salubrious lifestyle, especially diet. I am a fleck stubborn together with do non similar to tiresome downwardly when the illness is flaring. I often discovery myself inwards a vicious cycle inwards which I drinkable sodas for release energy to hold going when the illness zaps my energy; inwards turn, the surge of release energy is only temporary together with leads to a afterwards crash of equal or greater magnitude, requiring fifty-fifty to a greater extent than caffeine, carbohydrate together with artificial sweeteners, which I know are terrible for my immune system. If the antibiotics are going to piece of work at their total potential, I must tiresome downwardly a piffling together with conquer the soda addiction. Yesterday I gave my kids permission to pester me mercilessly if they ever run into me achieve for a soda again. Today I am piteous together with cranky, but it volition live good worth it if I go salubrious again.
LUCY'S CASE
In the fountain of 2010, Bill told an airline gate agent named Lucy nigh the AP therapy. Lucy's arthritis was pretty bad. Lucy went to run into Dr. Kittley inwards Lufkin together with began the AP. Bill reports that every fourth dimension he sees Lucy now, she says she is doing keen on the AP together with thank you lot him for telling her nigh it. She calls him her "angel."
JONATHAN'S CASE
My husband, Jonathan, gradually developed arthralgia throughout his torso which, past times 2009, was causing him to favor some of his joints. In addition, his left human foot ached frequently, together with his left pinky-toe was numb a skilful bargain of the time. He had major fatigue which was to a greater extent than often than non not relieved past times rest, together with a history of digestive problems. Jonathan saw my arthritis improving amongst the AP therapy, together with inwards Dec 2010 he went to run into Dr. Kittley.
She ran blood tests which revealed his mycoplasma was extremely high, together with his IGA together with ASO were also high. His liver enzymes were low. Dr. Kittley suspected late-stage lyme illness or other persistent bacterial infection, together with prescribed long-term doxycycline (100mg twice per day). She also told him to pick out vitamin D3. Because of Jonathan's history amongst digestive problems, allergies together with sinus infections, she told him to give the gluten-free diet a seek to dominion out gluten sensitivity.
Jonathan tried the gluten-free diet, but it did non seem to create whatever difference. When he returned to his regular diet, the arthritis together with digestive symptoms did non worsen, so nosotros decided gluten allergy was unlikely. However, over the months, his arthritis symptoms gradually together with significantly improved. His arthritis symptoms to a greater extent than often than non disappeared for nigh a twelvemonth spell Jonathan was taking the doxycycline.
In Jan 2012, Jonathan's elbows began hurting a piffling again. Within a brace of months, he developed hurting inwards his shoulder, abdomen, chest, arm together with back. He noticed a chronic "tightness, almost a cramp" inwards his left calf. By May, he had to slumber sitting upward becausehe couldn't breathe lying downwardly without severe pain. He had chronic fevers inwards the evenings. The local GP kept telling him he had a bacterial infection or "bug" that was going around at the time, together with tried several rounds of diverse antibiotics, amongst no existent improvement. Finally, at the terminate of May 2012, Jonathan went to the emergency room together with found out his symptoms were all attributable to a pulmonary embolism. His left leg had a blood clot which had been growing together with throwing off smaller clots for several months, together with those clots had been traveling through his pump together with into his lungs. He had "many clots" inwards his lungs. When the physicians began treating Jonathan's clots amongst blood thinners, the symptoms he had developed over the fountain began to gradually improve, although the vascular physician told him the symptoms volition belike come upward together with go for at to the lowest degree 3 months, until the clots take hold gone away completely together with his torso has had fourth dimension to repair from the impairment they caused.
HOLLY'S CASE
Holly owns a ranch inwards Kansas. In the fountain of 2010, arthritis symptoms developed inwards her correct mitt together with left foot. She was unable to usage her mitt fifty-fifty for the simplest of tasks, similar brushing her hair, buttoning her clothes, or turning the primal inwards her machine ignition. Writing was difficult. Her mitt became deformed. She was unable to walk normally, together with became afraid she would lose the powerfulness to attention for the many horses she had, together with would take hold to displace to a condo or rehabilitation facility. "I felt depressed together with disabled." In May of that year, a rheumatologist diagnosed her amongst psoriatic arthritis together with seat her on methotrexate. She noticed no improvement inwards her arthritis symptoms. She was taking 2-4 Ibuprofen gels daily, but soundless unable to trim the horses' hooves--a task she had done for 30 years--and had to hire assist amongst the ranch piece of work during the summertime together with fall. Her rheumatologist basically told her she "would non acquire better," together with the illness would proceed to progress.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 onetime customer of Holly's (who was a co-worker of Bill's) told her nigh Bill's experience amongst the AP. She contacted Bill together with learned to a greater extent than from him nigh his together with my progress amongst the AP. After reading testimonials on the Road Back Foundation's website, including i past times Dr. Kittley (which nosotros take hold reprinted below inwards this update), Holly contacted some of those contributors together with read the books past times Dr. Brown together with Henry Scammell. She also read Conquering Arthritis by Barbara Allen (www.conqueringarthritis.com), together with Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection (now Arthritis together with Autoimmune Disease: The Infection Connection) past times Katherine Poehlmann, Ph.D. (www.ra-infection-connection.com), every bit good every bit anything else she could discovery on the subject.
Holly carried printed information nigh the AP therapy to her rheumatologist together with asked him to consider treating her amongst the AP. He refused, telling her at that spot was "not plenty inquiry to dorsum it up." If only I had a dollar for every doc who has told me the same thing! Yet if asked, "Then are you lot familiar amongst the studies inwards this article?" they typically stammer together with state something to the effect of "Well . . . I don't retrieve just off the top of my caput . . . I would take hold to pick out a closer facial expression . . . I'll acquire dorsum to you lot on that." Holly searched for a doc willing to care for her amongst AP, but finding i proved difficult. She finally found Dr. Rebecca Kirby inwards Wichita, Kansas (www.visclinic.com).
When Holly showed the printed inquiry to Dr. Kirby together with asked her to care for her amongst AP, Dr. Kirby said she had never used it to care for arthritis patients before, but was willing to seek it. Dr. Kirby also tested her for nutrient sensitivities (the L.E.A.P. test) together with vitamin deficiencies. Dr. Kirby seat Holly on probiotics immediately, together with when the returned seek results indicated Holly was sensitive to many foods together with also deficient inwards several nutrients, Dr. Kirby told Holly to alter her diet accordingly together with start taking fish oil, vitamins D3, B6, B12, Chromium, Magnesium, Zinc together with vitamin C. With these changes, Holly noticed slight improvement, but soundless had a keen bargain of hurting together with was unable to usage her mitt or walk normally. Holly began taking low-dose, long-term doxycycline during the foremost calendar week of Dec 2010, "and ii weeks later, I trimmed the hooves on i of my mares . . . amongst no pain!" She continued to steadily improve, together with "by Apr 2011, I was riding horses again!"
July 2012 Update: One twelvemonth together with vii months into AP therapy, together with Holly is soundless symptom-free from her arthritis, although she soundless has deformities inwards her correct hand. She is also at nowadays able to eat some of the foods to which she tested sensitive, amongst no sick effects so far. Her advice to arthritis sufferers is, "Don't give up! There is hope. Do your inquiry together with discovery a doc who volition help."
My Journey Into Treating Arthritis amongst Antibiotics
(by Rima Kittley, MD, FAAFP, reprinted from her testimonial on www.roadback.org)
Medical internship. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fourth dimension for xc hr piece of work weeks. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fourth dimension for putting into practise all my medical schoolhouse book-learning. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fourth dimension for no sleep. And a fourth dimension for telephone calls from Mom. "What do I do nigh this?" "What does it hateful when grandma has that?" And so the fateful call, "My Kaiser doc says I take hold rheumatoid arthritis . . . He tells me to acquire a cycle chair to preserve my feet . . . You've got to discovery something to assist me!"
She honestly believed I could discovery the reply the medical profession could not. Long story short, Mom found it for me. At the time, I only knew what I was taught inwards medical school: rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, together with nosotros don't know what causes or cures it. This reply was unacceptable to her. It meant ending upward a cripple the ease of her life.
Understand, I was the 3rd generation of women inwards my seat unit of measurement to caput into a medical career. My grandmother went to medical schoolhouse for 3 years earlier beingness nudged out past times my grandfather. My woman bring upward was accepted, but never went, because I came along. She taught high schoolhouse sciences instead. So when I was accepted together with so really made it all the means through to an MD, it was a large deal!
Internship was non just the best fourth dimension to enquire me to solve what seemed unsolvable. The blank stares she got from me were for sure from lack of slumber instead of wheels grinding inwards my brain. "Mom, I can't fifty-fifty write a prescription on my ain yet," I would say. Needless to say, I wasn't much help. So she went on her ain quest.
Mom's quest was non how I would take hold done it. She spent hours together with hours trying to come upward up amongst WHY this was all happening to her. She didn't attention what others believed nigh it. She didn't take hold years of medical schoolhouse brain-washing to sift through. As my internship twelvemonth rolled into the 2nd twelvemonth of seat unit of measurement practise residency, Mom could hardly walk. This was nigh the fourth dimension the word came out that some arthritis was caused past times an infection called lyme disease. Mom worked together with worked on me to care for her "lyme disease." I was non nigh to budge. "No," I said. "I don't know what I'm treating. And you lot never had a tick bite."
One twenty-four hours after a real long telephone phone weekend, she pulled rank on me. "I'm your mother! Give me antibiotics!!" Oh, my. I just lost the battle of wits. Sigh. Let's see, what did I acquire inwards medical school? Lyme illness is a spirochete, sort of similar syphilis. Penicillin works for syphilis. Penicillin couldn't hurt, was my thought, together with it would acquire Mom off my back. It for sure is to a greater extent than benign than steroids together with the other drugs rheumatologists use.
What happened adjacent was absolutely incredible. Within 12 hours Mom's horribly swollen feet shrank downwardly to normal size, arch together with all. Her hurting was gone for the foremost fourth dimension inwards months. She was practically dancing, so grateful to the miracle of penicillin!
By the terminate of the week, the miracle had faded. The hurting together with swelling returned. Of course, Mom wanted the miracle back, so she insisted on some other shot of penicillin. I wanted to run into if this was existent or just a fluke. OK. More penicillin. Same matter happened again. The hurting together with swelling disappeared. We repeated the miracle iv times. Each time, the beneficial effects of the penicillin faded to a greater extent than quickly.
It could non take hold been a coincidence, I thought. I had to concede Mom was on to something, but penicillin wasn't quite the correct medicine. I scrambled to discovery out to a greater extent than nigh lyme illness myself. Very piffling was written nigh it since this was all novel information. I ended upward calling lyme illness researchers inwards Minnesota together with New York. Rocephin intravenously, I was told, was a much ameliorate pick for treating lyme illness than penicillin. Mom's lab piece of work came dorsum "negative" for lyme disease, but past times this fourth dimension I didn't care. Antibiotics were really helping her. We proceded amongst fourteen days of IV Rocephin therapy inwards the living room.
Seeing was believing . . . maybe. Mom improved plenty to render to work. She went dorsum to Kaiser to exhibit them how much ameliorate she was. Her doc insisted that rheumatoid arthritis doesn't acquire better, together with she had been misdiagnosed. He also told her she couldn't take hold had lyme disease, together with referred her to a psychiatrist. I was never specially convinced she had lyme illness either, but something for sure responded to antibiotic therapy.
With the busy-ness of medical training, the retentiveness of Mom's dramatic penicillin therapy faded. So did my belief inwards antibiotics. Mom's articulation problems were ameliorate together with worse, though never to the severity of that summer. Mom continued her vigilance for other arthritis treatments. She happened to take hold her TV on the Today Show when Dr. Brown spoke nigh treating arthritis amongst antibiotics. I got a telephone call, "Quick! Turn on the TV! There's a doc talking nigh treating arthritis amongst antibiotics." "Sure, Mom, you lot watch. I can't acquire to the TV correct now." Years later, I was sorry I missed it.
Mom hounded, together with I hateful hounded, me to hold her inwards antibiotics. She wrote to Dr. Brown's foundation together with brought me every bit much information every bit she could acquire her hands on, including the book, "The Road Back." I got every article she came across shoved inwards front end of me amongst an oral quiz at the end. Then, of course, she would refer arthritic patients to me, telling them her story. Early inwards my practice, I dared to care for only a select few amongst antibiotics. It belike took 10 years for me to genuinely believe inwards what I was doing. It became easier after the JAMA study nigh Minocin validated antibiotic therapy for arthritis.
During my fourteen years of practice, I take hold treated all kinds of rheumatoid diseases including scleroderma, lupus, chronic lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis together with fibromyalgia. Sometimes the results are absolutely awe-inspiring. Sometimes people do non take hold the patience to proceed therapy until they acquire better.
As a seat unit of measurement physician, I tend to facial expression at the whole somebody together with enquire a lot of history questions earlier embarking on antibiotic therapy, if it is appropriate. I don't take hold an exact protocol. I know the diverse antibiotics well, together with I'm non afraid to usage them. I volition care for amongst IV antibiotics or shots or oral medications depending on the circumstances. There are many to a greater extent than antibiotics available at nowadays than at that spot were inwards Dr. Brown's time, so why non usage them? Most of what works has to live determined clinically anyway, since lab tests are non specially helpful.
The hardest component division is rethinking the illness patterns. Is at that spot really such a matter every bit autoimmune disease? Maybe it's all triggered past times infection. And each somebody is different. For example, someone who had recurrent together with severe strep infections every bit a child, I think, is probable to take hold strep-caused arthritis, whether or non the ASO titers are elevated. I volition to a greater extent than probable care for them amongst amoxicillin or Zithromax or Biaxin that hits the strep-type bugs hard. The tetracyclines don't piece of work every bit good on strep-type infections.
The adjacent hardest component division is realizing that the patterns may live to a greater extent than than i disease. People tin together with do take hold ii or 3 infections going on at the same time. Or ii or 3 illness processes. Time together with patience together with listening to the patient provides an answer. Blast the obvious infections first, similar chronic sinusitis or chronic kidney infections, amongst heavy-duty antibiotics. Then dorsum off together with care for the chronic indolent ones amongst less strong drugs. I did this amongst a scleroderma patient once. I blasted her amongst IV Rocephin for her sinusitis together with her scleroderma remarkably improved. If a particular antibiotic does non piece of work after a few months, I seek a different one. Minocin that is supposed to live the best for tissue penetration does non piece of work for some. I belike usage the tetracycline-type antibiotics the most for long-term therapy. I wishing I had an reply every bit to why the torso does non struggle these infections off permanently.
-- Rima Kittley, MD, FAAFP
Family Practice
1105 West Frank, Suite 260
Lufkin, TX 75904
(936)634-5699
Fax: (936)634-5659
Website: www.drrima.com
COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT LONG-TERM ANTIBIOTIC USE
We take hold all heard claims that antibiotics tin create upward inwards our systems amongst prolonged usage to the dot they go toxic, together with that antibiotics tin lose their effectiveness amongst prolonged use. These are serious concerns, together with nosotros have to a greater extent than questions nigh these issues than whatever other when informing people nigh AP therapy. Bill has a Bachelor of Science grade inwards biological scientific discipline together with chemistry, together with has spent a brace of years researching these issues. Here is a brief synopsis contributed past times Bill from his research.
Of my friends together with acquaintances using AP therapy for handling of arthritis, those using long-term, low-dose medications such every bit Minocin together with similar type antibiotics take hold had miniscule, if any, side effects. In fact, most study other problems they were previously having (i.e., sinus infections, mutual depression temperature sores, tiredness, anemia, etc.) take hold diminished or no longer exist. The best word is that amongst AP therapy they are no longer killing their immune systems every bit they were doing amongst the other drugs similar Arava, gold, Enbrel, methotrexate together with other chemotherapy drugs, etc. Plus, the terms of AP is significantly less. Those monthly or quarterly checks on the liver, periodic x-rays together with cortisone injections are no longer required. As Dr. Kittley told me after my foremost three-month follow-up, "Regular blood tests are no longer necessary because you lot aren't taking toxicant anymore."
For those who fearfulness handling of arthritis using antibiotics because of possible toxic stupor due to drug build-up inwards your system, I wishing you lot to consider the next information obtained from the 2008 Nurses' Drug Guide published past times Prentice Hall:
Minocycline Hydrochloride
Common Names: Arestin, Dynacin, Minocin
Classification: Tetracycline antibiotic
Absorption: xc to 100% from GI tract
Peaks inwards 2 to 3 hours after dose
Half life of drug: eleven to 26 hours after dose
Eliminated: 20-30% inwards feces, nigh 12% inwards urine
Adverse Effects: Less than 1% of patients
The dot is, low, daily doses of tetracycline derivatives such every bit minocycline together with doxycycline do non create upward inwards the scheme similar some other antibiotics such every bit penicillin together with its derivatives; therefore, different penicillin derivatives, at that spot is little, if any, risk of toxic buildup from low-dose tetracycline derivatives. Furthermore, every bit to a greater extent than fully explained inwards Henry Scammell's mass on Dr. Brown's research, the tetracycline derivatives do non take hold the same vogue to lose effectiveness over fourth dimension every bit other types of antibiotics.
Veterinarians take hold been using doxycycline for a long fourth dimension to care for lyme illness (which is inwards the same course of study every bit RA) together with articulation problems inwards animals. My optometrist tells me that doxycycline is at nowadays beingness used to care for some degenerative oculus diseases. I know from my ain experience that Minocin is the argue my ain eyesight has improved from what it was earlier I started my AP treatment. I take hold noticed a definite improvement inwards my depth perception.
--Bill (December 2010)
FOOD SENSITIVITY AS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 CAUSE OF ARTHRITIS
Although the primary focus of this article is the efficacy of antibiotic therapy on diverse forms of inflammatory arthritis, it is good worth emphasizing that inwards some cases--including but non express to some people amongst Celiac illness (gluten allergy)--arthritis is a direct outcome of sensitivity to particular foods, together with tin live reversed past times identifying together with removing those foods from one's diet. In some cases where arthritis is infection-based together with needs AP therapy, nutrient sensitivity tin live an additional aggravating factor, so that the arthritis symptoms at to the lowest degree improve to some grade when those aggravating substances are removed. Interestingly, recent ground-breaking studies from the Netherlands take hold found that many cases of childhood ADHD are induced past times nutrient sensitivity, together with eliminating those foods reverses the disorder inwards those children. Armed amongst this information, I was able to contrary this disorder inwards my ain ii children. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 possible link is also at nowadays suspected betwixt a bacteria (mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, or "MAP", found inwards sure foods) together with Crohn's disease--which has, incidentally, also been successfully treated amongst antibiotics inwards recent studies. The dot is that most of us are unaware of the possible connections betwixt the foods nosotros eat together with possible manifestations of sensitivity or allergy to those foods, such every bit inflammatory diseases together with other wellness conditions. If you lot take hold inflammatory arthritis, it is worth giving the gluten-free diet (and perhaps a to a greater extent than restricted elimination diet such every bit a modified paleo diet or a "few foods" diet) a try. Detailed information for a gluten-free diet tin live found at www.celiacsyndrome.com. The "few foods" diet is belike the most restrictive (and most difficult), and also the most probable to seat nutrient sensitivities. It consists of eating only foods amongst the to the lowest degree possible risk of triggering an allergic reaction. The modified "few foods" diet I take hold used to seat my children's nutrient sensitivities is laid out below.
There are laboratory tests for some nutrient allergies; however, physicians to a greater extent than often than non only seek for the most mutual nutrient allergies, together with the results tin live unreliable. The most effective means to discovery out whether a nutrient sensitivity is causing wellness problems is to eliminate all probable suspects from the diet for nigh half dozen weeks together with run into if your symptoms improve. Some peope notice improvement inwards just a few days, but for others, it takes longer. If so, seek adding dorsum the removed foods i at a fourth dimension to acquire which ones trigger your symptoms.
MODIFIED FEW FOODS ELIMINATION DIET
Allowed Meats: Turkey, lamb
Allowed Vegetables: lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, broccoli, onions, garlic, ginger.
Allowed Fruit: pears only
Allowed Beverages: water, non-dairy rice milk (a skilful source of calcium together with vitamins), pure pear juice
Allowed Grains/Seeds: rice together with quinoa ONLY.
Allowed Seasonings together with condiments: green leafy types (basil, oregano, thyme, cilantro, sage, bay leaves, parsley, rosemary, savory), salt, pepper, garlic, onion, olive oil, grapeseed oil, white vino vinegar (not regular vinegar because it is made from corn), stevia (sweetener).
Items NOT Allowed: Everything else.
Potential (Sometimes Hidden) Triggers to Watch For together with Avoid:
Yellow vegetables
Nightshade seat unit of measurement members (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers (except dark pepper), eggplant, paprika)
Dairy
Grains together with nuts of ANY KIND except rice together with quinoa. If you lot desire to go gluten-free, you lot should
eliminate these also.
Wheat or whatever nutrient containing it, such every bit regular pasta. Brown rice pasta is a real skilful substitute.
Citrus such every bit oranges, lemons, limes
Canned foods
Additives or preservatives
Sugars or artificial sweeteners.
"Natural flavors", "Spices", "Natural colors"
Food Dyes
Soy
Corn (kernels, oil, syrup, vinegar, etc.)
Margarines or spreads
coffee, tea or sodas
Pesticides (found on unwashed, unpeeled or canned fruits together with vegetables). The safest matter is to go
organic to the extent you lot are able, or at to the lowest degree launder together with peel produce.
Hormones or other additives inwards meat.
Restaurants, fast nutrient places or pre-packaged foods.
This diet was real hard to stick to for the foremost brace weeks, but during calendar week three, my children's symptoms went away together with stayed away consistently for several days, so I knew their symptoms were food-induced. Then nosotros entered the challenge phase, inwards which nosotros gradually added dorsum foods and watched for recurrence of symptoms. To expand their diet every bit rapidly every bit possible, I added dorsum 2-4 items at a fourth dimension which met ii criteria: 1) less probable to trigger a hypersensitive response, together with 2) most of import nutritionally. When testing foods, I made sure to give the kids large amounst of those foods each twenty-four hours for several days. If no symptoms showed within a calendar week or so, I moved on to add together to a greater extent than foods. If the kids' symptoms returned, however, I removed the most recent "challenge foods" from their diet again, waited until the symptoms went away i time to a greater extent than (back to baseline, so to speak), together with so tried a novel laid of challenge foods or added dorsum the same challenge foods just i at a fourth dimension to determine which i from the grouping had triggered the reaction.
Within a brace of months, nosotros were able to broaden the kids' diets considerably. It was crucial to hold a log of all foods (the engagement each was added dorsum to their diets together with whether the nutrient triggered a reaction).
PHYSICIANS, PLEASE CONSIDER: ABOUT THE STUDIES
This article contains half dozen (actually, eight, counting Dr. Kittley together with her mother) cases involving people amongst a multifariousness of wellness histories, lifestyles together with environments, together with all of us have been helped tremendously past times AP therapy, despite our rheumatologists telling us it would non work. It is non coincidence. It is non a fluke. It is reality. We all demand to educate our doctors nigh this if they are non aware of it. When they tell us "more inquiry needs to live done first," nosotros demand to speak upward together with allow them know the inquiry has, inwards fact, been done.
The studies together with clinical trials referenced inwards this article are impressive together with compelling plenty every bit they stand. But clinical physicians should also hold inwards heed that the studies do non tell the entire story. Under the methodology used inwards many of the studies, cases similar both Sally's together with Bill's would take hold been included inwards the numbers of cases where the AP therapy was deemed unsuccessful, because at the fourth dimension researchers were to a greater extent than often than non determining handling success inwards those studies (six months into AP therapy), both Sally together with Bill were feeling lousy--in fact, they were Herxheimering. Also, the studies to a greater extent than often than non only tested efficacy of one antibiotic (usually minocycline), together with every bit clearly demonstrated past times Sally's instance together with many others nosotros take hold witnessed together with read about, where i antibiotic fails, a different antibiotic (or a combination or different dosage of antibiotics) tin eradicate the symptoms. It causes me to wonder just how many of those patients inwards the studies who were taken off AP therapy at each study's conclusion--and included inwards the statistics every bit cases where AP failed-- went dwelling theatre to proceed a life of hurting together with misery when they mightiness take hold been helped significantly past times continued handling amongst that same or some other antibiotic.
Physicians are understandably wary of re-thinking medicine together with changing their handling protocols based on anecdotal evidence; however, this is i surface area of practise inwards which clinical experience together with reading the ever-growing number of "anecdotes" tin live invaluable. I was really a fleck surprised past times the large increment inwards the number of patient testimonials for antibiotic therapy posted on the Road Back Foundation's website betwixt 2009 together with July 2012. But then, why should I take hold been surprised? Once again, doctors, a short-sighted, immediate-relief together with damn the afterwards consequences approach is non the reply when treating inflammatory arthritis. At the real least, the patient should live given adequate information to create her ain pick betwixt short-term symptom relief together with poorer wellness on metabolics or long-term recovery together with ameliorate wellness on AP. In whatever event, the truthful cat is at nowadays out of the proverbial bag, together with I dare the greed-driven pharmaceutical manufacture to seek together with materials it dorsum in. Like whatever other treatment, AP may non piece of work for everyone; however, it has helped thousands of patients significantly together with seems a much to a greater extent than logical pick every bit the foremost employment of defense strength against arthritis than the to a greater extent than unsafe Metabolic Drugs.
To those physicians who attention plenty nigh their patients to take hold read this article inwards its entirety, nosotros are genuinely grateful. Now, delight go read the studies together with Dr. Brown's research, utter to other doctors who take hold experience treating arthritis amongst antibiotics, together with start offering your patients a existent jeopardy to acquire better. We are also grateful to pioneers similar Dr. Brown together with Dr. Kittley, together with also to Dr. Kittley's woman bring upward for having the courage together with tenacity to go on her quest together with nudge--okay, shove--Dr. Kittley inwards the correct direction!
PETS AND ARTHRITIS
It may live of involvement to pet owners to know that long-term doxycycline together with minocycline were beingness used successfully to care for arthritis inwards zoo animals together with pets for years earlier clinical trials on humans began. Bill's elderly 100-pound rottweiler, Sadie, had severe arthritis together with could hardly stand upward up or walk for many months. In 2009, she was inwards so much hurting that Bill idea he would take hold to take hold her euthanized real soon. Desperate, together with knowing that antibiotics had been used to care for arthritis inwards animals inwards the past, Bill began giving Sadie minocycline. Within a brace of weeks Sadie was upward running together with playing similar a puppy. Before Sadie passed away, AP therapy gave her nigh ii to a greater extent than years of comfortable living.
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